Why Were Intelligence Officials Furloughed During Shutdown?

Park Service rangers to erect barricades to keep veterans away from memorials – essential. Intelligence workers who keep us safe – non-essential. It almost of makes you wonder if they were hoping there would have been some sort of attack on our soil to score political points.

The stories about the Park Service barricading memorials are irresistible as examples of petty harassment of the public to build opposition to the shutdown, but this McClatchy piece about intel furloughs is far more consequential. Take five minutes to read it all. It’s a true scandal, either a case of shocking incompetence by Clapper or the most sinister form of shutdown theater that the feds have engaged in.

Darrell Issa’s House committee spent the morning grilling the head of the Park Service about the Barrycading of federal parks but this is what they should really be holding hearings on. And Clapper’s job, which should have been taken from him long ago after he lied to Congress about the extent of NSA snooping, should be taken now. One simple question: Did the Director of National Intelligence decide to send thousands of his employees home despite believing that American lives depended upon them staying put?

Note that it isn’t Republican congressmen who find this mystifying. It’s industry experts, at least one of whom has a name you’ll recognize. (Read More)

And who was that industry expert? Leon Panetta, who served as CIA director and secretary of defense under Barack Obama. He said “It’s difficult for me to understand. …People that are involved in our intelligence are critical. You can’t possibly put 70 percent on furlough and not harm national security.”

This was a big time “Rut Row” moment.
Some pencilneck staffer had to fill out a long and boring report that was reviewed by a disinterested higher up. In the end it was more important that the report looked and sounded good and not listed reality. Say it with me: RUT ROW!